Toney Anaya

Toney Anaya (29 April 1941-) was Governor of New Mexico from 1 January 1983 to 1 January 1987, succeeding Bruce King and preceding Garrey Carruthers.

Biography
Toney Anaya was born in Moriarty, New Mexico in 1941, and he worked as a Santa Fe County attorney, as an assistant district attorney for the First Judicial District, and as a lawyer in Santa Fe. From 1975 to 1978, he served as New Mexico Attorney General under Governor Jerry Apodaca, and he unearthed political involvement in drug smuggling, fought against corruption, and sought to bring correction to the failing prison system. In 1978, he launched a failed bid for the US Senate, losing to incumbent Republican Pete Domenici. From 1983 to 1987, he served as Governor, focusing on energy alternatives, water development and conservation, the environment, education, economic development, and invested in the state's multibillion-dollar trust funds. In 1986, he made New Mexico the nation's first sanctuary state for Central American refugees, and he also commuted the death sentences of all of the state's inmates after the pro-death penalty Republican Garrey Carruthers was elected to succeed him. Afterwards, he entered the private sector as a businessman.